Mothers touched by nitrous oxide addiction bring fight to Congress as House ban proposal gets first hearing

Summary by The Midland Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Joce Sterman, KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · July 24, 2026 · 5 min read

( InvestigateTV ) — A bill that would ban retail sales of nitrous oxide received its first congressional hearing this week, with the bill’s author telling lawmakers the measure could save lives. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., introduced the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act , which would direct the Consumer...

Why this matters in The Midland

The push to ban retail sales of nitrous oxide has significant implications for the Midland community, where substance abuse and addiction have long been concerns. As the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act moves through Congress, local residents should be aware of the potential impact on our area. The Permian Basin has seen its share of struggles with addiction, and the availability of nitrous oxide has likely contributed to the problem. By banning retail sales of the gas, the proposed legislation could help reduce the incidence of nitrous oxide-related accidents and deaths in our community. The stories of mothers like Gerrie Gray-Benedi and Julia Charleston, who have lost loved ones to nitrous oxide addiction, serve as a reminder of the human cost of inaction. As the bill progresses, Midland residents should watch for opportunities to support the legislation and advocate for its passage, which could ultimately save lives in our community.

About this story

Original reporting by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). The Midland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 24, 2026 · Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · Reading time: 5 min

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This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.

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This story was reported by Joce Sterman at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). To learn more about how The Midland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards.

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Summary created by	The Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Joce Sterman, KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 24, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 24, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Mothers touched by nitrous oxide addiction bring fight to Congress as House ban proposal gets first hearing

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